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The Crossing

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Submitted By ditlev96
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The crossing

The relationship between the father and the son
The protagonist is an unnamed man somewhere between 30-50 years old, and located in a small depression, because text says; "He had not been happy in a while." The protagonist is divorced or separated from his wife: "... He had not wanted here back, had not wanted much of anything really" (line.15)
It would seem that the protagonist himself is to blame for the divorce, as he nurtures a desire that things should work again, both in relation to his ex-wife, but perhaps most in relation to his son. The father is very caring and loving to his son, and you quickly sympathize with him as the reader
"... when the boy came running into the living room he threw him over his shoulder, careful not to hit his head on the corner of the TV…" (Page 2. line16-17)
The protagonist wants to pass some of the good childhood memories that he had with his own father. They also used to take the same trip, and the main character repeats many of the same principles and rituals with his own son.
Since the reader does not have access to the boy's thoughts and feelings, just as we have in the father. The author paints a picture of him with descriptions and through his father's thoughts about him. Most of all, we get a picture of a small frail boy. This narrative technique enables the reader to quickly sympathize for the boy and especially his father, who tried to get him safely through their journey in the wilderness:
"He looked at the miniature jeans, the sweatshirt bunched beneath the seat belt's strap, the hiking boots dangling off the floor like weights." (Page 2. Line 7-8)
The Setting
Crossing takes place in a magnificent nature reserve. The setting has importance for the actions in the short story. An example of this is the role of the river throughout the story and especially in the end. The river is a threat to

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